Cover photo by Phil Hall

When the School of Photographic Imaging was launched back in 2000, little did anyone at AP know that it would be such a success. At that time there was just one course, the Foundation in Photography, that was aimed at film and digital camera users of beginner and intermediate level. Fast forward 12 years and thousands of students have transformed their photography through one of AP’s four courses.


As well as the original Foundation in Photography, students can now improve their skills through the Foundation in Digital Photography, which is aimed at those new to photography or digital cameras, the Diploma in Digital Photography, for those who want to get the best from their digital camera, or the Foundation in Digital Imaging Techniques, for those who want to learn how to improve their images on the computer.

So whatever your level of expertise, AP has the course for you to help take your photography to the next level. Knowledge is power, so the saying goes, and in this supplement we aim to show you how you can empower yourself to produce images that you can be proud of. Lesley Upton, supplement editor


Road to Success

With two young children and a career as an employment lawyer, Laura Farnsworth thought a photography course was out of the question – until she discovered the SPI Foundation in Digital Photography. She tells her story

My Best Shot

Rachel Alita Bass explains why her shot of Buckley is her favourite image from the Foundation in Digital Imaging Techniques

50 Top Tips

Find out what you’ll learn if you enrol on one of the SPI courses as we list tips 1- 17 that cover topics from sharpening to staging an exhibition

Going for Gold

Completing the SPI course was just the start of what has been a highly successful photographic journey for Gill Golding, as she explains

My Best shot
Having completed the Diploma in Digital Photography, Andy Barr chooses his best shot from the course


50 Top Tips

Tips 18-34 cover subjects such as flare, composition and panning to retouching, still life and photographing buildings


My Best Shot
Val Kressman chooses the best shot from her Foundation in Digital Imaging Techniques course. Her tutor described it as ‘excellent’

50 Top Tips

We’ve tips on how to photograph people, use white balance, take landscape images and check exposure in tips 35-50

My Best Shot
Rhys Parry picks a great shot of his son as his favourite image from the Foundation in Photography course